UNIVERSITÉ D’ABOMEY, CALAVI, BENIN HOSTS THIRD WASEND ACADEMIC EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

 

The third WASEND academic exchange programme took place at Université D’abomey, Calavi, Benin from 18th July 2022 to 22nd July 2022. Three PhD students from the West African Colleges of Engineering participated in this exchange programme.

Paul Victor Jatta, a PhD student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) represented the University of Science Engineering and Technology (USET), Gambia. Priscilla Oyeladun Ajiboye, a PhD student in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at KNUST, Ghana and Tako Djidoula, a PhD student in the Department of Civil Engineering from Institut International d’Ingénierie de l’Eau et de l’Environnement (2iE), Burkina Faso were participants of the academic exchange programme.

Presentation by Prof. Djara Tahiou (in suit)

Participants visited the Department of Informatics and Telecommunication and had a meeting with the Head of Department, Prof. Djara Tahirou, (HOD-IT). Prof Tahirou took them through the various activities and projects his team of students was working on. An example is the development of an application which enables students and colleagues on the same platform to communicate effectively without the use of Wi-Fi, internet connection or airtime. The app was designed for voice calls, video calls and short message service (SMS) at zero cost. A practical session was held where telephone calls were made using the app with the registered phone numbers of participants. Participants were able to send text messages and make voice and video calls at zero cost. All the calls were very clear and audible with the bandwidth of the network going up to 100m plus. Prof Djara Tahirou however expressed his concern about extending the bandwidth to a minimum of 25km as specified in the device’s manual.

Prof. Tahirou (in suit) in a group photograph with Paul Victor Jatta (left), Priscilla Oyeladun Ajiboye and Tako Djidoula (right)

Participants toured the Department Mechanical Engineering work station and they were introduced to the various research works undertaken and machines used. They also visited the Department Civil Engineering where Tako Djidoula gave a presentation on his research work.

Participants touring the Mechanical workstation

On the last day of the exchange, a student symposium was organized for both host university students and visiting students to present their research works and share ideas to help improve their individual research projects.

Participants enjoyed the academic exchange program and mentioned that it was worth participating in it. They said it was an undeniable promoter of learning and a major key to achieving international competence.